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Digital Discipleship- Is It Possible?

I saw the post below at Church Crunch. As I move closer to the launch of our church it's essential to explore all viable options to help bring people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Digital Discipleship – Is it Possible?

One of the things that needs to be explored much greater and in much more detail is the possibility of using online technology as a medium of discipleship.

It’s very apparent to anyone that’s been in the space for a while (and that’s followed this blog) that the tools that are becoming, services, and applications are becoming better and more powerful as forms of communication. What was thought expensive and/or impossible technologically is now a reality.

Tools like Tokbox and a host of other live and real-time video chat tools are quickly being tested, adopted, used, and stretched. Mindy, the Vice President of Marketing at Tokbox recently sent me a video request for an interview because traditional local news outlets had “picked up” the story that evangelicals and “christian groups” were using their service in ways that were never necessarily intended.

Discipleship isn’t “one” of those, yet. But perhaps.

What would it take for someone who is passionate about pouring into other believers and who has the time, the motivation, and the technical know-how to do it through online video?

Honestly? Not much. I think the technology has arrived. In fact, I know it’s here and the idea has been used. Ask Tony Steward and his online small group called “The United Life Nerd Group”. He’s been pouring into a group for weeks, leading them in prayer, study of the word, and encouraging them to use technology missionally.

Now, he hasn’t called it “discipleship” but functionally he’s performed the role. Semantics? Maybe. But that’s not the point.

It’s something to take seriously. I am. Seriously.

I am very interested in taking a limited number of bloggers and pouring into them deeply and train them to be powerful communicators through the blogging medium. I’ve already begun to formulate a loose curriculum of about 8-12 weeks where I’d “digitally-disciple” through online tools like TokBox how to become the best darn technoevangelist blogger possible.

I’ve also thought about doing one for WordPress…

Would that be something you’re interested in?

Digital Discipleship is possible and powerful. I think we should start doing it.